Game system and management apparatus having a convenient authentication process for ensuring security

Abstract

A game system includes a management apparatus and a game device. The management apparatus includes an authentication section for obtaining results of authentications using first and second identifiers that should correspond to a user. When the results of the authentications are affirmative, a validity time limit is associated with the first identifier. In addition, the game device includes a confirmatory identifier acquirer for acquiring a confirmatory identifier that should correspond to the user, and an inquiry maker for making an inquiry asking the management apparatus to check whether or not the first identifier conforming to the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management apparatus. The inquiry inquires the management apparatus to check whether or not the validity time limit corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming to the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management apparatus. A permitter of the management apparatus permits execution of a service associated with the first identifier used in the inquiry when results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry are affirmative.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A game system comprising a management apparatus and a game device,
 the management apparatus comprising: 
 an authentication section adapted for obtaining results of authentications using a set of first identifier and second identifier corresponding to a user; and 
 a manager, implemented by a processor, adapted for storing into a management storage section the first identifier and time limit information indicating a validity time limit associated with the first identifier when the results of the authentications are affirmative, the manager adapted for storing a plurality of first identifiers in the management storage section and searching for the first identifier among the plurality of first identifiers by checking memory in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from the game device, 
 the game device comprising: 
 a confirmatory identifier acquirer adapted for acquiring a confirmatory identifier corresponding to the user; 
 an inquiry maker adapted for making an inquiry asking the manager to check whether or not the first identifier conforming with the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section, the inquiry asking the manager to check whether or not the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming with the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section; and 
 a permitter adapted for permitting execution of a service associated with the first identifier used in the inquiry by the inquiry maker when results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry are affirmative, 
 wherein the set of the first identifier and the second identifier is given to the management apparatus by manipulation at a first input device at the management apparatus by the user, and the confirmatory identifier is given to the game device by manipulation at a second input device at the game device by the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manager is adapted for updating the time limit information such that the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information with respect to the first identifier is prolonged when a predetermined requirement is satisfied with respect to the first identifier. 
     
     
       3. The game system according to  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined requirement includes a fact that the results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry for the first identifier are affirmative. 
     
     
       4. The game system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a determiner adapted for determining whether or not the game device is in play, wherein the predetermined requirement includes:
 a fact that the results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry for the first identifier are affirmative, and 
 a fact that the determiner determines that the game device that accepts entering the confirmatory identifier matching the first identifier is in play. 
 
     
     
       5. The game system according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the game device comprises a recording medium holder adapted for holding a recording medium on which a recording medium identifier corresponding to the confirmatory identifier or the confirmatory identifier is recorded, 
 wherein the predetermined requirement includes a fact that the recording medium is held in the recording medium holder, and 
 wherein the permitter is adapted for permitting execution of the service if the results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry are affirmative and if the recording medium is held in the recording medium holder. 
 
     
     
       6. The game system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the game devices, wherein if the results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry made by the inquiry maker of each of at least two game devices are affirmative, the permitter is adapted for permitting execution of the service corresponding to the first identifier used in the inquiry by only one game device among the at least two game devices. 
     
     
       7. The game system of  claim 1 , wherein the management apparatus is a server external to the game device. 
     
     
       8. The game system of  claim 1 , wherein the management apparatus and the game device are different devices connected through a network. 
     
     
       9. The game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manager is adapted for updating the time limit information such that the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information with respect to the first identifier is prolonged when a determiner determines that the game device that accepts entering the confirmatory identifier matching the first identifier is in play. 
     
     
       10. The game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the validity time limit is an expiration time limit of a duration in which the authentications are effective. 
     
     
       11. The game system according to  claim 1 , wherein the manager is further adapted for storing in the management storage section, for each of the plurality of first identifiers, a respective time limit information indicating a validity time limit. 
     
     
       12. A game system comprising a management apparatus and a game device,
 the management apparatus comprising: 
 an authentication section adapted for obtaining results of authentications using a set of first identifier and second identifier corresponding to a user; and 
 a manager, implemented by a processor, adapted for storing into a management storage section the first identifier and time limit information indicating a validity time limit associated with the first identifier when the results of the authentications are affirmative, the manager adapted for storing a plurality of first identifiers in the management storage section and searching for the first identifier among the plurality of first identifiers by checking memory in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from the game device, 
 the game device comprising: 
 a confirmatory identifier acquirer adapted for acquiring a confirmatory identifier corresponding to the user; and 
 an inquiry maker adapted for making an inquiry asking the manager to check whether or not the first identifier conforming to the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section, the inquiry asking the manager to check whether or not the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming with the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section, 
 the management apparatus further comprising 
 a permitter adapted for permitting execution of a service associated with the first identifier used in the inquiry by the inquiry maker when results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry are affirmative, 
 wherein the set of the first identifier and the second identifier is given to the management apparatus by manipulation at a first input device at the management apparatus by the user, and the confirmatory identifier is given to the game device by manipulation at a second input device at the game device by the user. 
 
     
     
       13. The game system according to  claim 12 , wherein the manager is adapted for updating the time limit information such that the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information with respect to the first identifier is prolonged when a predetermined requirement is satisfied with respect to the first identifier. 
     
     
       14. The game system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of the game devices, wherein if the results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry made by the inquiry maker of each of at least two game devices are affirmative, the permitter is adapted for permitting execution of the service corresponding to the first identifier used in the inquiry by only one game device among the at least two game devices. 
     
     
       15. The game system according to  claim 12 , wherein the validity time limit is an expiration time limit of a duration in which the authentications are effective. 
     
     
       16. A management apparatus comprising:
 an authentication section adapted for obtaining results of authentications using a set of first identifier and second identifier corresponding to a user; and 
 a manager, implemented by a processor, adapted for storing into a management storage section the first identifier and time limit information indicating a validity time limit associated with the first identifier when the results of the authentications are affirmative, the manager adapted for checking memory in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from a game device, 
 wherein the manager is adapted for storing a plurality of first identifiers in the management storage section and searching for the first identifier among the plurality of first identifiers by checking whether or not the first identifier conforming with a confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from the game device, the inquiry involving a confirmatory identifier corresponding to the user and is acquired at the game device, 
 wherein the manager is adapted for checking whether or not the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming with the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section, 
 wherein the management apparatus sends check results of the manager to the game device, and 
 wherein the set of the first identifier and the second identifier is given to the management apparatus by manipulation at a first input device at the management apparatus by the user, and the confirmatory identifier is given to the game device by manipulation at a second input device at the game device by the user. 
 
     
     
       17. The management apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the validity time limit is an expiration time limit of a duration in which the authentications are effective. 
     
     
       18. A management apparatus comprising:
 an authentication section adapted for obtaining results of authentications using a set of first identifier and second identifier corresponding to a user; 
 a manager, implemented by a processor, adapted for storing into a management storage section the first identifier and time limit information indicating a validity time limit associated with the first identifier when the results of the authentications are affirmative, the manager adapted for storing a plurality of first identifiers in the management storage section and searching for the first identifiers among the plurality of first identifiers by checking memory in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from a game device; and 
 a permitter adapted for permitting execution of a service associated with the first identifier used in the inquiry by the game device when results of checks by the manager in response to the inquiry are affirmative, 
 wherein the manager is adapted for checking whether or not the first identifier conforming with a confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section in response to an inquiry from the game device, the inquiry involving a confirmatory identifier corresponding to the user and is acquired at the game device, 
 wherein the manager is adapted for checking whether or not the validity time limit indicated by the time limit information corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming with the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management storage section, and 
 wherein the set of the first identifier and the second identifier is given to the management apparatus by manipulation at a first input device at the management apparatus by the user, and the confirmatory identifier is given to the game device by manipulation at a second input device at the game device by the user. 
 
     
     
       19. The management apparatus according to  claim 18 , and wherein the validity time limit is an expiration time limit of a duration in which the authentications are effective.